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Ernst & Young Corporate Responsibility Fellows Return from Three-Month Volunteer and Professional Development Program in South America
Ernst & Young Corporate Responsibility Fellows Return from Three-Month Volunteer and Professional Development Program in South America
Published 04-02-09
Submitted by Ernst & Young
NEW YORK, NY. - April 2, 2008 - The Ernst & Young Corporate Responsibility (CR) Fellows have returned from three-month assignments in South America, where they helped high-impact entrepreneurs in Chile and Uruguay strengthen their businesses, free of charge. The CR Fellows leveraged their workplace skills to improve a range of business processes for their respective entrepreneurs, including overall strategy, human resources, and financial reporting.
For the fourth consecutive year, this skills-based volunteer program has enabled high-performing employees to take a break from their normal job responsibilities to help entrepreneurs in emerging markets grow their businesses, create jobs and foster innovation and generate economic value in local communities. Through the CR Fellows Program, Ernst & Young has now collectively supported over 25 entrepreneurs in Central and South America.
"The Corporate Responsibility Fellows Program underscores Ernst & Young's commitment to entrepreneurs as engines for social change and economic growth. Given the global financial crisis, the importance of supporting entrepreneurs is more critical than ever," explains Deborah Holmes, Global Director of Corporate Responsibility, Ernst & Young." The CR Fellows Program provides these entrepreneurs with Ernst & Young’s greatest asset "“- its people. The Fellows themselves enhance their leadership and problem solving skills."
Ernst & Young collaborates with Endeavor, a non-profit organization that identifies and supports high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging economies, to match the CR Fellows with their respective entrepreneurs. On average, these entrepreneurs employ over 200 local workers, pay 10 times the minimum wage, and generate sustainable economic value with a 96% survival rate after 10 years. To maximize the impact on the wider entrepreneur communities, the CR Fellows also participated in regional knowledge-sharing conferences to benefit a greater number of local entrepreneurs and business leaders.
The 2008 Fellows and the entrepreneurs they supported in Uruguay and Chile:
- Laura, a fraud investigation manager at Ernst & Young LLP (US) in New York, NY helped improve financial planning and processes for Seinco, a company that develops advanced water purification devices.
- Jared, a manager in the assurance practice at Ernst & Young LLP (US) in Denver, CO, helped optimize internal controls for business processes at Genesys, a software developer.
- Becky, a tax senior manager at Ernst & Young LLP (US) in New York, NY, developed a multi-country tax strategy for a telecommunications company, Tiaxa Ltda.
- Scott, an advisory services manager at Ernst & Young LLP (US) in San Francisco, CA, helped improve product development processes for Woodtech, which provides the timber industry with measurement solutions.
- Trusha, an inclusiveness advisor at Ernst & Young LLP (US) in New York, NY, developed a human resources strategy for CEPA, a company that offers traffic accident control and risk management programs.
- Elizabeth, an advisory services senior manager at Ernst & Young LLP (US) in Chicago, IL, helped improve budget processes for Geomar, a company that sells gourmet-quality seafood products.
- Jennifer, a tax senior manager at Ernst & Young LLP (Canada) in Vancouver, BC, provided tax assistance for Trabajando.com, a human resources services company.
- Lance, a transaction advisory services manager at Ernst & Young LLP (US) in Dallas, TX, helped improve the financial reporting and administrative processes for Drillco, a company that produces drilling tools.
- Carmen, a tax manager at Ernst & Young LLP (Canada) in Toronto, ON, developed a tax strategy for Business News America, a source of industry-oriented news for Spanish-and English-language audiences.
In addition to the Corporate Responsibility Fellows Programs, Ernst & Young supports global entrepreneurship through its work with Kiva.org, the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website that to date has helped fund over 145, 000 entrepreneurs in developing markets. Ernst & Young professionals assist Kiva.org in increasing the transparency of its micro-lending process, which is central to its ability to attract lenders, provide transparent and accurate data and deliver loans to individual borrowers. Ernst & Young also has a long tradition of supporting entrepreneurs throughout the world with its "Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R)" (EOY) awards program, now in its 23rd year.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 135,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.
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Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.
This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global Ernst & Young organization that also does not provide any services to clients.
About Endeavor
Endeavor breaks down barriers that prevent emerging-market entrepreneurs from reaching their high-impact potential. Hailed by NYT columnist Thomas Friedman as the "mentor capitalist" model, Endeavor identifies entrepreneurs leading high-growth innovative companies in emerging markets. These entrepreneurs are given world-class strategic advice, access to key networks and other tools that will catapult them to success. With Endeavor's guidance they become "high-impact" "“ expanding employment, generating wealth and inspiring others to innovate. Often overlooked, these local entrepreneurs are now jumpstarting private sector development in their countries.
As of 2007, Endeavor Entrepreneurs throughout Latin America, South Africa and Turkey have created over 86,000 new jobs and generated over $2.51 billion in revenues. For more information, visit www.endeavor.org or follow us on http://twitter.com/endeavor_global.
